After Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, another Liverpool superstar set to leave on a free transfer | OneFootball

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is expected to leave the club at the end of the 2026/27 season, marking the definitive conclusion to one of the most transformative eras in the history of Anfield.

According to The Athletic, the 34-year-old Dutchman has just one full year remaining on his contract before an “expected farewell” in the summer of 2027.

While van Dijk remains an undisputed starter under Arne Slot, the club’s strategic pivot toward younger defensive options suggests that a renewal is not currently on the table.

Virgil van Dijk to leave Liverpool

The news follows a series of high-profile exit announcements at the club, with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson also confirmed to be entering their final months on Merseyside. Pearce noted that the defensive landscape at Liverpool is shifting rapidly.

“Captain Virgil van Dijk has one more year on his contract before his expected farewell,” Pearce reported.

Reports suggest that Liverpool are already leading the race for Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi as a long-term left-footed successor.

With van Dijk set to be 35 by the time his deal expires, he appears prepared to walk away as a free agent.

Van Dijk to go down as one of Premier League’s best ever

When van Dijk eventually departs in 2027, he will do so as arguably the greatest centre-back to ever wear the Liverpool shirt.

Since his £75 million move from Southampton in 2018, a then-world-record fee, he has been the pillar upon which Liverpool have built their recent success.

Van Dijk’s impact on the club’s identity is impossible to overstate. He instantly transformed a vulnerable defence into the foundation of a dominant side that won every major trophy available.

While the atmosphere at the club is currently at a low point following recent European and domestic exits, van Dijk’s commitment to seeing out his contract ensures that the Anfield faithful will have one final year to celebrate a genuine club legend.